Tennessee mother waives hearing in stabbings of 4 children

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A woman accused of stabbing her four young children has waived her preliminary hearing, meaning a grand jury will decide whether to indict her in the killings.

Twenty-nine year old Shanynthia (Shuh-NIN-thee-uh) Gardner was arrested after her 7-year-old son escaped from their Memphis apartment on July 1 and told someone that his mother was stabbing his sister. Authorities found the bodies of three daughters and a son, all younger than 5.

Her lawyer, Craig Morton, has said she isn't a violent person and likely has a mental disability. She is undergoing a court-ordered mental evaluation.

She signed the hearing waiver Wednesday and Judge Bill Anderson Jr. accepted it.